One thing I've learned is that even before your baby is born, there is some bureaucratic-related paperwork that an expectant mom needs to attend to. I've put together a list of the paperwork that needs to be taken care of.

1. SSS Notification. If you're an SSS member, you need to notify SSS within the first three months of your pregnancy that you're expecting a baby. If you're employed, you can find out if your personnel office will help you with this. If you aren't employed, you can download the SSS Maternity Notification form here. Be aware that since June 2008, SSS has decentralized its operations, so find out which branch of SSS you need to go to to submit your documentation.

2. Philhealth. To avail of Philhealth benefits you need to get your Philhealth papers in order.

If you deliver in a Philhealth-accredited hospital, the hospital will automatically deduct the Philhealth benefits from your hospital if you have the necessary Philhealth documents with you. Save yourself (or your husband) the trouble of worrying about all these things when you're already in hospital: go to your nearby Philhealth branch while you're still pregnant to get your Philhealth number and a copy of your Member's Data Record (if you don't already have them on hand). You will also need to bring an accomplished copy of Philhealth Claim Form 1 (signed by your employer, if they have been making the contributions for you) and your accomplished Maternity Care and Newborn Care Package claim forms.

If you don't deliver in a Philhealth-accredited hospital, or if you go to a Philhealth hospital with incomplete records, you can still claim Philhealth benefits as a Philhealth member; but you will have to pay the hospital out of your own pocket first and you will be reimbursed later. Within 60 days of your confinement you will need to submit Philhealth Claim Form 2 and your accomplished Maternity Care and Newborn Care Package claim forms .

Bear in mind that many private health insurance providers will only give you hospital benefits if you've already filed your Philhealth claims.

3. Private Health Insurance. Contact your private health insurance provider to find out what papers you need to be able to claim hospital or prenatal care benefits throughout your pregnancy and delivery.

4. Maternity Leave and SSS Maternity Benefit. If you're you're an SSS member, you're entitled to maternity benefits. If you're employed, your benefits are equivalent to 60 calendar days of pay while you take 60-day leave for a normal delivery or miscarriage, or 78 calendar days of pay while you take a 78-day leave for a C-section delivery. If you aren't employed (but you're an SSS member) or if your employment status doesn't entitle you to a leave (e.g., if you're a part-time or non-regularized employee) then your maternity benefit takes the form of a cash benefit computed according to your average pay, for a maximum of P30,000 cash. Apart from this, find out if your company also gives additional maternity benefits.

In other words, your maternity leaves and SSS maternity benefits are tied to each other. If your benefits will take the form of paid leave, you can begin your maternity leave 2 weeks before your expected date of delivery at the earliest. File the leave with your employer according to your employment policies.

After you've given birth, you will need to submit a maternity reimbursement form from SSS (either to your Personnel Office or to your nearest SSS branch) together with the required supporting documents.